Monday 1 January 1996 Ian Lyons (31), was shot dead by the group Direct Action
Against Drugs (DAAD) in Lurgan. DAAD was considered by many in
Northern Ireland to be a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Irish
Republican Army (IRA).

Tuesday 9 January 1996 A debate opened in the House of Commons, Westminster on the
Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Bill which was drafted
to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions
(Northern Ireland) Act. The Bill contained a proposal on the videotaping
of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) interviews.

Thursday 11 January 1996 The three members of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning
met John Major, then British Prime Minister, in London.

Friday 12 January 1996 The three members of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning
met the Irish Government, and representatives of Fianna Fáil
(FF), Sinn Féin (SF), and the Social Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP) in Dublin. The Irish Government and the three parties
stated their opposition to the idea of an elected assembly to
be based at Stormont that had been proposed by David Trimble,
then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

Sunday 14 January 1996 Sinn Féin (SF) again stated that it thought the idea
of a new elected assembly at Stormont was a "non-runner".

Monday 15 January 1996 The British and Irish Governments and the Social Democratic
and Labour Party (SDLP) held a first tripartite meeting. The three
members of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning met
with Northern Ireland Office (NIO) ministers, and representatives
of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Sinn Féin (SF) in
Belfast.

Wednesday 17 January 1996 The British and Irish Governments met with Sinn Féin
(SF) at Stormont. The meeting was for preparatory talks. Patrick
Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Dick
Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs), again said that all-party talks
would begin by the end of February 1996.

Wednesday 24 January 1996Mitchell Report on Decommissioning The report of the International Body on arms decommissioning,
the Mitchell Report,
was published (the report is dated 22 January 1996) in Belfast.
Included in the report were six principles (the 'Mitchell Principles')
by which parties could enter into all-party talks and at the end
of the report there were a number of confidence building measures.
The main conclusion of the report was that decommissioning of
paramilitary arms should take place during all-party talks rather
than before or after as some parties wanted. The report was welcomed
by the Irish Government and opposition parties, the Social Democratic
and Labour Party (SDLP), and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
(APNI). Sinn Féin (SF), the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP)
and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) accepted the report as
a way forward. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) rejected the
report and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) expressed reservations.
In a move which surprised many observers John Major, the British
Prime Minister, ignored the main elements of the report and focused
on the "elective process" mentioned as one of a series
of confidence building measures. The UUP and the DUP welcomed
the proposed elections while the SDLP initially rejected the proposal.
The Irish Government accused the British of not consulting them
on the announcement. [Relations between the two Governments were
soured for some days afterwards.]

Sunday 28 January 1996 The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) refused to meet with the Irish
Government as part of the 'twin-track' negotiations.

Monday 29 January 1996 The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the Ulster
Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP),
held their first meeting under the 'twin-track' negotiations.

Tuesday 30 January 1996 Gino Gallagher (33), believed to be the Chief of Staff of
the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead in a
Social Security Office in the Falls Road, Belfast. [This killing
was to mark the beginning of another feud within the INLA. This
particular feud ended on 3 September 1996.] Gerry Adams, then
President of Sinn Féin (SF), held a meeting with Patrick
Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, at Stormont.
John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP), met with John Major, then British Prime Minister, in Downing
Street, London.

February 1996

Thursday 1 February 1996 A large number of bullets were fired into the home of a reserve
member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). No group admitted
responsibility. The Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper) ran a report
that Sinn Féin (SF) was unhappy with the final report from
the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, based in Dublin.

Sunday 4 February 1996 The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) rejected calls from the Irish
Government for a start to negotiations. George Mitchell, then
chair of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning, said
that there was a danger of an Irish Republican Army (IRA) split
if there was no movement to all-party talks.

Wednesday 7 February 1996 Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), and Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland, held a meeting in Dublin. Dick
Spring proposed the establishment of 'proximity' style talks similar
to those adopted at the Dayton, Ohio Negotiations in the United
States of America (USA) between warring groups from Bosnia. The
idea was rejected by unionist politicians.

Thursday 8 February 1996 Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), traveled to America for talks
with Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of America
(USA). The European Court of Human Rights found that aspects of
the British Government's emergency legislation in Northern Ireland
infringed the European Convention on Human Rights.

Friday 9 February 1996End of IRA Ceasefire The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a large bomb at South
Quay in the Docklands area of London. The lorry bomb killed two
people, injured many more, caused millions of pounds worth of
damage, and marked the end of the IRA ceasefire after 17 months
and 9 days. A statement
had been issued by the IRA one hour before the explosion occurred
at 7.01pm.

Saturday 10 February 1996 John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), announced
that the Irish Government was breaking off ministerial contact
with Sinn Féin (SF) in the light of the Irish Republican
Army (IRA) bombing in London on 9 February 1996.

Tuesday 13 February 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, met Ian Paisley,
then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), for talks
at Downing Street, London.

Thursday 15 February 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) left a five pound Semtex bomb
in a telephone kiosk in the Charing Cross Road, London. Additional
troops were flown into Northern Ireland to be deployed in the
border areas.

Friday 16 February 1996 There was a large peace rally at City Hall, Belfast, and a
number of smaller rallies at venues across Northern Ireland.

Sunday 18 February 1996 Edward O'Brien (21), later claimed as one of their members
by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was killed by the premature
explosion of the bomb he was carrying. The bomb accidentally detonated
in the bus he was traveling in as it passed along Aldwych, London.
A number of passengers were injured in the explosion. David Trimble,
then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), agreed to meet
Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), for discussions based on a
'limited agenda'. Ronnie Flanagan was appointed as Deputy Chief
Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Tuesday 20 February 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, held talks with David
Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), in Downing
Street, London. Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish
Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), accepted the
offer of talks (issued on 18 February 1996) with David Trimble.

Wednesday 21 February 1996 An area of the centre of Belfast was evacuated because of
a bomb scare. It is the first bomb scare in Northern Ireland since
the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire. John Hume, then leader
of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams,
then President of Sinn Féin (SF), met with members of the
Irish Republican Army (IRA) Council to discuss the ending of the
IRA ceasefire. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) published a document
outlining proposals for a 90 member elected body to be based in
Stormont, Belfast.

Sunday 25 February 1996 Rallies in support of peace were held in a number of cities
in Ireland and Britain.

Monday 26 February 1996 In a crucial vote at Westminster on the Scott report (on shipments
of arms to Iraq) the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic
and Labour Party (SDLP), and the United Kingdom Unionist (UKU)
member voted against the Government. The Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) abstained. The Government won the debate by one vote.

Wednesday 28 February 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, and John Bruton,
then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), held a summit meeting in
London. In their Communique, the two Governments set a date (10 June 1996) for the
start of all-party talks. It was announced that parties to the
talks would have to agree to abide by the six 'Mitchell Principles'
and there would be a period of 'proximity' talks to decide on
an agenda and the administration of the process.

Thursday 29 February 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement following talks between John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic
and Labour Party (SDLP), Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin
(SF), and representatives of the IRA.

March 1996

Saturday 2 March 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
and Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP), said they would not attend the 'proximity' talks at Stormont.

Monday 4 March 1996Proximity Talks Launch of a period of intensive consultations between the
Northern Ireland political parties at Stormont. The Ulster Unionist
Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refused to
join these 'proximity' talks. Sinn Féin (SF) were refused
entry to the talks. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland, and Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy
Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs), met a
number of the other parties.

Friday 8 March 1996 David Cook, then chairman of the Police Authority of Northern
Ireland, and Chris Ryder, then a Police Authority member, were
both dismissed from their positions on the Authority by Patrick
Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The two
men had earlier lost a vote of confidence.

Saturday 9 March 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) later admitted responsibility
for a small 'improvised device' which exploded in Old Brompton
Road, London. The explosion caused no injuries and only minor
damage.

Monday 11 March 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
met with the leaders of the Irish Coalition Government in Dublin.

Wednesday 20 March 1996 Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), had a briefing with Patrick
Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on plans
for elections in Northern Ireland. Dick Spring refused to publicly
support the plans.

Thursday 21 March 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, announced
details of elections to be held on 30 May 1996. The elections
were designed to decide which parties would take part in all-party
negotiations on 10 June 1996. The elections were also to elect
delegates to the proposed Forum. The Forum was to be made up of
110 delegates, 90 elected directly and 20 'top-up' seats from
the 10 parties polling the most votes. The Social Democratic and
Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin (SF) both criticised
the proposals.

Friday 22 March 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) stated that there was little
prospect for a renewed ceasefire.

Saturday 23 March 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
made a keynote speech
at the Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council.
Sinn Féin (SF) Ard Fheis began in Ambassador Cinema
in Dublin. A SF decision on taking part in the 30 May 1996 elections
was left for the party's Ard Chomhairle to make.

Tuesday 26 March 1996 The Police Authority published its Consultation Report. The
parts of the report dealing with the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) recommended no change to the name, uniform, or oath of allegiance
to the Crown. It was suggested that letterheads used by the RUC
should include the adjunct, Northern Ireland's Police Service.
David Cook, who had been sacked from the Police Authority on 8
March 1996, claimed that the report had been "watered down".

Friday 29 March 1996 The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin was suspended
until a new Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire has been established.

Saturday 30 March 1996 Jim McDonnell (36), then a prisoner at Maghaberry Prison,
was found dead of a 'heart attack'. [It was later revealed that
he had a series of injuries, including 11 broken ribs, which the
Prison Service said was a result of a fall or the attempts at
resuscitation.]

April 1996

Monday 1 April 1996 A 'consultation paper' was issued by the British Government
which listed 15 parties entitled to take part in the 30 May 1996
elections. [There was a series of concerns about a number of groups
and individuals who were not included on the list. The list was
increased to 30 on 16 April 1996.]

Tuesday 2 April 1996 Michael Howard, then Home Secretary, introduced new emergency
legislation to give the police the right to 'stop and search'
suspected members of paramilitary groups.

Wednesday 3 April 1996 Ron Brown, then United States of America Commerce Secretary
was killed in a plane crash in Croatia. Ron Brown had been involved
in measures to increase American investment in Northern Ireland.

Saturday 6 April 1996 Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
said that the Irish Republican Army was "out of a touch"
with the wishes of Irish People. Ian Paisley, then leader of the
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), celebrated his 70th birthday
and stated his intention to continue as leader of the DUP and
the Free Presbyterian Church.

Sunday 7 April 1996 (Easter Sunday) Republicans held a series of rallies to commemorate the Easter
Rising of 1916. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin
(SF), addresses a rally in the Bogside, Derry. The Irish Republican
Army (IRA) issued an Easter statement which did not mention
a renewed ceasefire.

Monday 8 April 1996 There was violence following an Apprentice Boys organisation
protest at the banning of their march through the Lower Ormeau
Road, Belfast.

Friday 12 April 1996 The 26th annual conference of the Alliance Party of Northern
Ireland (APNI) opened in Belfast.

Saturday 13 April 1996 John Alderdice, the leader of the Alliance Party of Northern
Ireland (APNI), addressed his party conference in Belfast.

Tuesday 16 April 1996 British government published draft legislation (in the form
of a Command Paper, 'Ground Rules for
Substantive All-Party Negotiations') for the proposed elections in Northern
Ireland on 30 May 1996. [The proposals lead to a period of debate
before the legislation was rushed through parliament on 18 April
1996. The number of parties entitled to stand in the elections
was increased from the original 15 to 30, however the list still
excluded the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP).]

Wednesday 17 April 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb in The Boltons,
Earls Court, London. The bomb went off in a vacant house and there
were no injuries.

Thursday 18 April 1996 Although the Unionist parties and the Social Democratic and
Labour Party (SDLP) opposed aspects of the legislation, the Northern
Ireland (Entry to Negotiations) Act was passed at Westminster.
The names of the 30 parties and individuals who will appear on
the ballot paper for the Northern Ireland election were published
in the Bill.

Saturday 20 April 1996 It was believed that John Major, then British Prime Minister,
and Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of America
(USA), discussed the 'Peace Process' at a summit in Moscow. A
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) report showed that poverty in
Northern Ireland continued to be the highest in the United Kingdom
(UK).

Sunday 21 April 1996 Bertie Ahern, then leader of Fianna Fáil, criticised
the Irish government's approach to Northern Ireland. He placed
some of the blame for the ending of the Irish Republican Army's
(IRA) ceasefire on John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).
The criticism placed strain on the bipartisan approach to Northern
Ireland in the Dáil.

Wednesday 24 April 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted two bombs at Hammersmith
Bridge, London. The bombs contained 30 pounds of Semtex and although
the detonators went off the main charges failed to explode. There
were no injuries and no damage was caused. There were claims,
in a Channel 4 'Dispatches' programme, that the British Government
had sanctioned secret talks with Sinn Féin (SF) which began
in 1990. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland, denied the claims and stated that talks only began in
1993.

Friday 26 April 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) accepted responsibility for
the bomb at Hammersmith Bridge, London (Thursday 25 April 1996).
Jim Nicholoson, then Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
stepped down as UUP Chairman. Dennis Rogan, then Vice-Chairman
of the UUP, succeeded him.

Sunday 28 April 1996 Michael Ancram, then Political Development minister at the
Northern Ireland Office (NIO), said that the Irish Republican
Army (IRA) must restore its ceasefire and Sinn Féin (SF)
must agree to be bound by the six 'Mitchell Principles' before
it could join all-party talks. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
stopped a group of Orangemen from marching through the lower Ormeau
Road in Belfast. This decision led to a two-hour stand-off.

Monday 29 April 1996 Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), made a proposal that the issue
of decommissioning should become a 'fourth strand' in the proposed
all-party talks.

Tuesday 30 April 1996 In response to Dick Spring's suggestion of 29 April 1996,
unionist politicians accused the Irish Government of trying to
"appease" the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

May 1996

Wednesday 1 May 1996 A White Paper {external_link} was published on the future of the Royal
Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Thursday 2 May 1996 Conor Cruise O'Brien, formally an Irish Labour Party Minister,
announced that he would stand in the forth-coming Northern Ireland
elections on behalf of the United Kingdom Unionists (UKU).

Sunday 5 May 1996 A coded warning in the name of the Ulster Volunteer Force
(UVF) was issued stating that two bombs had been planted in Dublin.
A suspect car at Dublin Airport was blown-up in the following
security operation.

Thursday 9 May 1996 Michael Howard, then Home Secretary, agreed to the transfer
of Patrick Kelly, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, from
Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland to Portlaoise Prison in
the Republic of Ireland.

Friday 10 May 1996 Following protests Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP), was told that his name would be added to
his party's name in the forth-coming elections.

Thursday 16 May 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, was reported in an Irish
Times (a Dublin based newspaper)
article as having said that arms decommissioning would have to be addressed at the start of talks.

Sunday 19 May 1996 Geoffrey Anderson, then a Royal Irish Regiment soldier, killed
two people and injured a third before committing suicide. There
was a confrontation between the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
and nationalists in the village of Dunloy, County Antrim, during
an Apprentice Boys of Derry march.

Monday 20 May 1996 Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), said
that SF was prepared to accept the six 'Mitchell Principles' if
the other parties agreed to them.

Tuesday 21 May 1996 Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC), announced that he would retire later in the year.

Saturday 25 May 1996 Dessie McCleery, then a member of the Irish National Liberation
Army (INLA) 'GHQ' faction, was shot dead in central Belfast. The
killing was part of a continuing INLA feud.

Tuesday 28 May 1996 Dick Spring, then Tánaiste (deputy Irish Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs), met Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland, in Dublin after which they announced
that George Mitchell, a former United States Senator, should play
a key role in the proposed all-party talks.

Tuesday 4 June 1996 The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) invited nine political parties
to attend talks at Stormont. Sinn Féin (SF) were not invited
to the talks. Mary Robinson, then President of the Republic of
Ireland, began the first official state visit to Britain by an
Irish Head of State.

Wednesday 5 June 1996 Following three days of talks the British and Irish Governments
agreed ground rules for all-party talks. The three members
of the International Body on Arms Decommissioning, George Mitchell,
John de Chastelain, and Harri Holkeri, were to chair various strands
of the proposed talks. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued
a statement that a new ceasefire was "remote in the
extreme".

Friday 7 June 1996Garda Killed by IRA Jerry McCabe, then a Detective in Garda Síochána
(the Irish police service), was shot dead during a post office
robbery in Adare, County Limerick, Republic of Ireland. Suspicion
for the killing fell on members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
who later admitted responsibility.

Sunday 9 June 1996 Fra Shannon, then a member of the Irish National Liberation
Army (INLA) 'GHQ' faction, was shot dead in west Belfast in a
continuing INLA feud.

Monday 10 June 1996Stormont Talks Began All-party negotiations (hereafter referred to as the 'Stormont
talks') began in Stormont, Belfast. The talks began with opposition
from the unionist parties to the extent of the role to be played
by the chair George Mitchell. John Major, then British Prime Minister,
and John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), gave a
joint press conference and indicated their support for George
Mitchell. Sinn Féin (SF) were refused entry to the talks
and the two governments issued a joint statement on the decision to exclude SF.

Tuesday 11 June 1996 The second day of the Stormont talks were again spent in argument
over the appointment of George Mitchell as chair and the extent
of his "over-arching" role. The Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) agreed to a compromise which reduced the role of George
Mitchell but which let talks proceed.

Friday 14 June 1996 The Northern Ireland Forum met for the first time in Belfast.
Sinn Féin was excluded because of the absence of an Irish
Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire. There are objections by the Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionists (UKU) to
the appointment of John Gorman, a Catholic Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) delegate, to the chair of the Forum.

Saturday 15 June 1996Manchester Bombing The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb in Manchester,
which destroyed a large part of the city centre and injured 200
people. The bomb was estimated to have contained one-and-a-half
tonnes of home-made explosives. Although a warning of one hour
and twenty minutes was received by a local television station
injuries were still caused by the sheer scale of the explosion.
In response to the Manchester bomb the Ulster Freedom Fighters
(UFF) announced that it was putting its members 'on alert'. Niall
Donovan (28), a Catholic man, was stabbed to death near Dungannon,
County Tyrone.

Tuesday 18 June 1996 Parts of the centre of Dublin were evacuated in a bomb hoax
which was believed to have been made by the Ulster Freedom Fighters
(UFF).

Wednesday 19 June 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement in which it said: "We are still prepared to enhance the democratic peace process".

Thursday 20 June 1996 An Irish Republican Army (IRA) 'bomb factory' was found by
Gardí near Clonasee, County Laois, Republic of Ireland.
In response the Irish Government ended all contacts with Sinn
Féin (SF).

Friday 21 June 1996 Hundreds of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers escorted
an Orange march through north Belfast. There were riots following
the parade in Catholic areas of Belfast. Gareth Parker (23), a
Catholic man, died following a beating he received near the Shaftesbury
Inn in north Belfast.

Wednesday 26 June 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
admitted bringing pressure to bear on the Director of Public Prosecutions
(DPP) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) over the events
on the Garvaghy Road in 1995. Trimble had pressed for prosecutions
against the leaders of the Garvaghy Road residents who had opposed
the 1995 Drumcree Orange march. Prosecutions were dismissed. Veronica
Guerin, an investigative journalist in Dublin, was shot dead near
to Dublin.

Thursday 27 June 1996 Gardí in the Republic of Ireland recovered 100 pounds
of home-made explosives at Clones, County Monaghan.

Friday 28 June 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched an attack at a British
Army barracks in Osnabreuck, Germany. Three mortars were fired
in the attack but there were no injuries. Several buildings were
damaged.

Sunday 30 June 1996 The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) rerouted a parade from
passing through the lower Ormeau Road.

Sunday 7 July 1996Drumcree Parade - 'Drumcree II' The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) prevented a march by Portadown
Orangemen from returning from Drumcree Church via the Garvaghy
Road. The decision was taken by Sir Hugh Annesley, then Chief
Constable of the RUC. The reason given for the decision was to
prevent public disorder but the result was to mark the start of
Northern Ireland wide protests. Protests and roadblocks began
to spread across Northern Ireland. Michael McGoldrick (31), a
Catholic man, was shot dead outside Lurgan. The attack bore the
hallmarks of a paramilitary killing but no group claimed responsibility.
[Suspicion for the killing fell on a 'maverick group' from the
mid-Ulster brigade of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). This group, believed to have been led by Billy Wright (then a leading Loyalist in Portadown), went on to form the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).]

Monday 8 July 1996 Many aspects of life in Northern Ireland were disrupted as
protests were mounted across the region in support of the Drumcree
Orangemen. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) fired plastic bullets
to control protesting crowds in Drumcree (Portadown), Sandy Row
(Belfast) and Ballymena. At the multi-party talks in Stormont,
Belfast, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Democratic Unionist
Party (DUP) and the United Kingdom Unionists (UKU) all pulled
out of the talks in protest at the decision of the RUC to prevent
the march at Drumcree. "Fire and brimstone" speeches
by unionist politicians were claimed by the McGoldrick family
to be partly to blame for their son's death on 7 July 1996.

Tuesday 9 July 1996 The British government sent an extra 1,000 troops to Northern
Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The resources
of the RUC were seriously stretched across Northern Ireland. Hundreds
of roads, including motorways, were blocked by members of the
Orange Order and loyalist supporters. Several Catholic families
felt sufficiently intimidated to leave their homes in the Torrens
area of Belfast. Gunshots were also reported in north Belfast.
Leaders of the main Unionist parties meet with John Major, then
British Prime Minister, in Downing Street, London.

Wednesday 10 July 1996 Many towns and villages across Northern Ireland were blocked,
either completely or for considerable periods during the day.
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) reported that since Sunday
(7 July 1996) there had been: 90 civilians and 50 RUC officers
injured; 156 arrests; over 100 incidents of intimidation; 758
attacks on the RUC; and 662 plastic baton rounds fired by the
RUC.

Thursday 11 July 1996 Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC), reversed his decision and ordered his officers to allow
the Orange march to pass along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
1,200 Orangemen were allowed to proceed down the Garvaghy Road.
Protesting residents were forced off the road. Rioting broke out
in the Catholic housing estate and was followed by serious rioting
in other nationalist areas including Armagh, Belfast, Derry and
Lurgan. Three RUC officers were injured by gunfire in north Belfast.
There was widespread condemnation of the decision in nationalist
circles with many political and community leaders claiming there
had been a surrender to the threat of physical force.

Friday 12 July 1996 Ballynafeigh Orangemen were allowed to march through the Catholic
lower Ormeau Road area of Belfast. There was continuing rioting
in nationalist areas. Dermot McShane (35), a Catholic man, was
killed when he was run over by a British Army armoured car in
Little James Street, Derry. It was estimated that 1,000 petrol
bombs were thrown and 1,000 plastic bullets were fired in Derry. John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), criticised
the decision to allow the Orange march to proceed on the Garvaghy
Road. He accused the British government of yielding to force and
the threat of force.

Saturday 13 July 1996CIRA Bombing A car bomb exploded outside the Kilyhelvin Hotel, Enniskillen,
County Fermanagh, causing substantial damage. The bomb was estimated
to have contained 1,200 pounds of home-made explosive and the
large blast injured 17 people as they were being evacuated from
the hotel. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) denied responsibility
for the bomb as did Republican Sinn Féin (RSF). Security
sources placed the blame for the attack on the Irish Republican
National Army (IRNA) considered to be the military wing of RSF.
[A group calling itself the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
later claimed responsibility for the bomb.] There were further
riots in nationalist areas. The Social Democratic and Labour Party
announced that it would withdraw from the Northern Ireland Forum.

Sunday 14 July 1996 Nationalists held large rallies in Belfast, Derry and Lurgan.

Monday 15 July 1996 In a series of raids the London Metropolitan Police found
components for making bombs at a number of addresses in Tooting
and Peckham, London. The police speculated that the equipment
would have been used in bomb attacks on utility installations
in London and the south-east of England. Seven men were arrested
in the raids, and a man and a woman were later arrested in Birmingham. It was revealed in a television programme (BBC's Panorama) that
David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
had held a meeting during the Drumcree stand-off with Billy Wright,
then a leading Loyalist in Portadown. The Social Democratic and
Labour Party (SDLP) accused David Trimble of being in breach of
the Mitchell principles. Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State
for Northern Ireland, announced the setting up of a committee
to review parades in Northern Ireland (the Independent Review
of Parades and Marches).

Wednesday 17 July 1996 Richard Dallas, then the mayor of Derry, was stripped of the
use of council facilities because of his part in an Orange roadblock
on the Craigavon Bridge in the city.

Friday 19 July 1996 Eight men were remanded in custody after appearing on charges
of conspiring to cause explosions. The men were arrested on 15
July 1996. At a meeting between Hugh Annesley, then Chief Constable
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and the Police Authority
of Northern Ireland, a motion of no-confidence in Hugh Annesley
was dropped.

Monday 22 July 1996 Delegations from the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and
the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) met with John Major, then British
Prime Minister, in Downing Street, London.

Monday 29 July 1996 Agreement on procedures for talks was reached at the Stormont
talks. There was no movement on the setting of the agenda for
substantive talks.

Wednesday 31 July 1996 Peter North, then a vice-chancellor at Oxford and a Queen's
Council, was appointed to head the Independent Review of Parades
and Marches. Later the Revs. John Dunlop and Oliver Crilly were also
appointed to the body.

August 1996

Friday 2 August 1996 In a statement the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) announced
that the Portadown unit of the Mid-Ulster Brigade was to disband.
The statement also said that activities of the Portadown unit
would be investigated. Sinn Féin (SF) denied organising
boycotts of Protestant businesses in rural areas of Northern Ireland.
Since the stand-off at Drumcree some nationalists had been boycotting
Protestant businesses in Armagh, Castlederg, Lisnaskea, Omagh
and Pomery. Nationalists claimed that the business people had
taken part in Orange roadblocks during the stand-off.

Monday 5 August 1996 A meeting between the Apprentice Boys of Derry and the Bogside
Residents Association ended without agreement about the march
due to take place on 10 August 1996. A series of meetings between
the two groups had been chaired by the local Member of Parliament
John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP).

Wednesday 7 August 1996 Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
ordered that the contentious part of the Derry walls, a section
overlooking the Bogside area, be closed off for a month. This
effectively banned the proposed march on 10 August 1996. Immediately
after the decision the British Army moved to seal off the section
of walls. Gardí in the Republic of Ireland discover a rocket
launcher and ammunition in the Fane River near Dundalk, County
Louth.

Saturday 10 August 1996 In a decision taken during the morning the Apprentice Boys
of Derry organisation decided not to try to walk along the section
of closed-off Derry walls. The main parade through the centre
of the city went ahead as planned. Contentious parades in Newtownbutler
and Roslea, County Fermanagh went ahead after compromises were
reached with local residents. There was trouble in Dunloy, County
Derry, when a large group of Apprentice Boys tried to parade through
the village. John Molloy (18), a Catholic man, was stabbed to
death in Belfast.

Sunday 11 August 1996 In Bellaghy, County Derry, residents blocked a parade by members
of the Royal Black Institution. A compromise was eventually reached
which ended a 20 hour stand-off.

Monday 12 August 1996 Four Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were suspended
for taking part in Orange parades.

Thursday 15 August 1996 The Police Authority of Northern Ireland estimated a cost
of £10 million for police overtime during and after the Drumcree
standoff.

Monday 19 August 1996 Jimmy Smith, one of those who had escaped from the Maze prison
in 1983, was extradited from the United States of America.

Tuesday 20 August 1996 John Alderdice, then leader of the Alliance Party of Northern
Ireland (APNI), was awarded a life peerage to the House of Lords.
His name had been sponsored by the British Liberal Democrats.

Wednesday 28 August 1996 The Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC), an umbrella
group for loyalist paramilitaries, issued a statement ordering
Billy Wright and Alex Kerr (both leading Loyalists figures from
Portadown, County Armagh) to leave Northern Ireland or face "summary
justice". Mr Kerr was in custody when the threat was issued
but Mr Wright said he would defy the order.

Friday 30 August 1996 Following a series of interviews the Police Authority of Northern
Ireland announced that Ronnie Flanagan was to be appointed as
the new Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Chief Constable. Ronnie
Flanagan took over from Hugh Annesley in November 1996.

September 1996

Sunday 1 September 1996 Billy Wright, a leading Loyalist who had been ordered to leave
Northern Ireland by the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC)
on 28 August 1996, addressed a group of supporters at midnight;
the time of the deadline set by the CLMC. A bomb was thrown through
the window of the home of Alex Kerr's parents (Alex Kerr was also
under threat from the CLMC but was in police custody at the time
of the attack). There were no injuries as a result of the bombing. A series of Orange marches were rerouted in Dunloy, Newry, lower
Ormeau Road, Pomeroy, and Strabane.

Monday 2 September 1996 There were sectarian clashes between residents in the Mountcollyer
Street and Duncairn Gardens areas of Belfast and British troops
were deployed in support of the police.

Tuesday 3 September 1996 Hugh Torney, believed to be the former Chief of Staff of the
Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead in Lurgan.
This killing was part of feud that had begun on 30 January 1996
with the killing of Gino Gallagher. (Hugh Torney's faction later
disbanded on 9 September 1996.)

Wednesday 4 September 1996 There was a rally in Portadown, County Armagh, in support
of Billy Wright and Alex Kerr. The rally was addressed by William
McCrea, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member of Parliament.

Friday 6 September 1996 The Forum met for business after a break for the summer. The
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin
(SF) did not attend.

Sunday 8 September 1996 An Orange parade in Dunloy, County Antrim was rerouted by
the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). In protest at this decision
the Orangemen held a short stand-off at a police line.

Monday 9 September 1996 The 'General Head Quarters' (GHQ) faction of the Irish National
Liberation Army announced that the group was disbanding. This
decision followed the killing of Hugh Torney on 3 September 1996.
This marked the ending of a feud within the INLA which started
with the killing of Gino Gallagher on 30 January 1996. This latest
feud had claimed six lives.
The Stormont talks resumed after a
break during the summer. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and
the United Kingdom Unionists brought a complaint against the Progressive
Unionist Party (PUP) and the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) for
breach of the 'Mitchell Principles' because of their failure to
condemn threats made against Billy Wright and Alex Kerr; both
Loyalists from Portadown, County Armagh.
The Irish Times (a Dublin based newspaper) published the
details of a poll, one of the results
of which showed that two-thirds of people in Northern Ireland
thought the Stormont talks would fail.

Tuesday 10 September 1996 The two governments, British and Irish, decided that the Progressive
Unionist Party (PUP) and the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) were
not in breach of the 'Mitchell Principles' and therefore could
remain in the talks at Stormont.

Wednesday 11 September 1996 John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), addressed
a joint session of the United States Congress. His address was
upbeat and optimistic about the prospects for progress in the
all-party talks and also the possibility of a new Irish Republican
Army (IRA) ceasefire.

Thursday 12 September 1996 Mary Robinson, then President of the Republic of Ireland,
had a number of engagements in Belfast. There were protests at
one of the venues, a women's centre on the Donegal Road, and the
centre was later badly damaged in an arson attack. Michael Whelan (35), a Catholic man, was discovered beaten to
death in the lower Ormeau area of Belfast. The Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) later said the motive for the killing was sectarian.

Friday 13 September 1996 British Government Ministers were reportedly warned that the
Irish Republican Army (IRA) were ready to launch a renewed bombing
campaign in Britain.

Sunday 15 September 1996 There was media speculation that the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) was about to call a permanent ceasefire, but this was rejected
by republican representatives. There were a series of pickets
by loyalists outside Catholic chapels in Ballymena, Bushmills
and Dervock, all in County Antrim. A Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) councillor, David McAllister, said the pickets were a response
to the rerouting of Orange parades and the boycott of Protestant
businesses by Catholics. The protests were widely condemned. The
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) arrested three men in connection
with the murder of Michael Whelan (35) on 12 September 1996.

Monday 16 September 1996 Seán Devlin (30), a Catholic man, was shot dead in
the Markets area of Belfast. Responsibility for the killing was
later claimed by Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD) which was
believed by many people to be a cover name used by the Irish Republican
Army (IRA). In the Stormont talks the Alliance Party of Northern
Ireland (APNI) brought a complaint against the Ulster Unionist
Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) stating that
their actions during the 'Drumcree standoff' (7 July 1996 to 11
July 1996) were a breach of the 'Mitchell Principles'. The Alliance
Party also complained of the attendance of William McCrea (DUP
Member of Parliament) at a rally in support of Billy Wright (a
prominent Loyalist) in Portadown, County Armagh.

Monday 23 September 1996 Diarmuid O'Neill (21) (later confirmed as a member of the
Irish Republican Army; IRA) was shot dead in raids by security
service personnel. In the security operation several people were
arrested and bomb-making material recovered. Ten tonnes of home-made
explosives, two pounds of Semtex, rifles and other bomb equipment
were recovered. [Initial reports of the arrest operation suggested
that there had been a 'shoot-out' but it was later revealed that
Mr O'Neill was unarmed at the time of the shooting.]

Sunday 29 September 1996 A 250 pound car bomb made of home-made explosives was abandoned
in Belfast. Security forces used a controlled explosion to make
the bomb safe. The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) later
claimed responsibility for the bomb.

Monday 7 October 1996IRA Bombing of Army Headquarters The Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded two bombs in the
British Army Headquarters, Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, County
Antrim (responsibility for the bombs was claimed on 8 October
1996). 31 people were injured, four seriously, in the attack.
(Warrant Officer James Bradwell (43) died four days later (11
October) of injuries received in the blasts). The bombs were each
estimated to have contained 800 pounds of home-made explosive.
The car bombs were smuggled into what is considered to be the
top security base in Northern Ireland. The bombs were the first
attack against the security forces in Northern Ireland by the
IRA since their ceasefire on 31 August 1994. The bombing coincided
with the start of the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth,
and a meeting between loyalist prisoners and representatives of
the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) in the Maze Prison.

Tuesday 8 October 1996 In a statement
issued from Dublin the Irish Republican Army (IRA) admitted responsibility
for the bombs in Lisburn, County Antrim, on 7 October 1996.

Wednesday 9 October 1996 The Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued a statement stating
that Diarmuid O'Neill (21), who was shot dead by British security
personnel in London on 23 September 1996, was one of their volunteers.

Friday 11 October 1996 Warrant Officer James Bradwell (43) died of injuries received
during the Irish Republic Army (IRA) bombing of the British Army
Barracks on Monday 7 October 1996. There were reports in the Northern
Ireland media that the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC)
had met during the day to consider their response to the IRA bombing.
At the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth, John Major,
then British Prime Minister, told delegates that the IRA would
not bomb its way into the Stormont talks. About 1,000 people attended
a peace rally organised by Women Together outside the City Hall
in Belfast.

Saturday 12 October 1996 The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) held its annual conference.
Leaders of the PUP appealed to the loyalist paramilitary groups
to maintain their ceasefire. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn
Féin (SF), warned that Northern Ireland was on the edge
of an abyss and called for talks that would include SF.

Monday 14 October 1996 Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then the British Labour Party spokesperson
on Northern Ireland, met with Loyalist prisoners in the Maze Prison
in an effort to "keep the talks process alive". The
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP) agreed on a draft agenda for the Stormont talks.

Tuesday 15 October 1996 Cecil Walker, then Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of Parliament
(MP), announced in an interview that he would stand as an independent
candidate in any forthcoming general election if he was deselected
by his local constituency group. David Trimble, then leader of
the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), denied that he was involved in
any effort to have Walker deselected.

Thursday 17 October 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
met with John Major, then British Prime Minister, at Downing Street,
London.

Friday 18 October 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
met with Loyalist prisoners in the Maze Prison.

Saturday 19 October 1996 The march by the Apprentice Boys of Derry around the city's
walls passed off without trouble. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
held its annual conference. In his address to the conference,
David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
blamed the Drumcree crisis on the Anglo-Irish Secretariat.

Tuesday 22 October 1996 The Irish News (a Belfast based newspaper) published details of an opinion poll {external_link}. One result showed that 94 per cent of all respondents, and
70 per cent of Sinn Féin (SF) supporters, wanted an immediate
Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire.

Wednesday 23 October 1996 In the Queen's speech during the opening of a new session
of the British parliament, the government announced that it would
pass a bill on decommissioning. Later John Major, then British
Prime Minister, stated that it would require more than a new ceasefire
to allow Sinn Féin (SF) to enter the Stormont talks. James
Molyneaux, the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
announced that he would not be standing for re-election to the
Lagan Valley constituency.

Friday 25 October 1996 Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
stated that there would be no concessions for Loyalist prisoners
as a "reward" for the continuing ceasefire.

Sunday 27 October 1996 An article in The Observer (a London based newspaper) on the financing
of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), claimed that the IRA was obtaining
funds by smuggling tobacco products and producing pirate versions
of video tapes.

Monday 28 October 1996 The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) published
a report, The Misrule of Law {external_link}, on the action of the Royal
Ulster Constabulary (RUC) during the marching season. The report
was critical of many aspects of the policing of the Drumcree standoff
and its aftermath, particularly the use of plastic bullets. Patrick
Mayhew, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, met
wit representatives of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) to discuss the issue of prisoners.

Tuesday 29 October 1996 Thomas Stewart (32), who had recently been a Ulster Volunteer
Force (UVF) commander, was shot dead in Ballysillan in north Belfast.
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) stated that the killing was
'criminal' rather that 'political'. The Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its formation.

November 1996

Sunday 3 November 1996 Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), refused
to comment on reports in the Sunday Tribune (a Dublin based newspaper) that
the British government had reopened contacts with Sinn Féin
(SF). Sean Brady succeeded Cathal Daly and was appointed as Archbishop
of Armagh and head of the Catholic church in Ireland.

Tuesday 5 November 1996 Bill Clinton won the American presidential election to secure
a second term in office.

Wednesday 6 November Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was
involved in a car accident near Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland,
and received hospital treatment for minor injuries. Peter McMuller,
a former member of the British Army's Parachute Regiment, was
sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for his part in a bomb attack
on British Army barracks in Yorkshire, England. He was released
because of time already spent in jail.

Friday 8 November 1996 The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) held its annual
conference. There was some discussion of the effect the events
surrounding Drumcree was having on the party's level of support. Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), was refused
a visa to visit Australia. David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster
Unionist Party (UUP), called Dick Spring, then Tánaiste
(deputy Irish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs),
"a cheerleader for a terrorist gang" because he was
pressing for the entry of Sinn Féin (SF) into all-party
talks.

Saturday 9 November 1996 Loyalists, who were involved in a weekly picket of the Catholic
church in Harryville in Ballymena, injured a six-year old Catholic
boy when they threw stones at those leaving the service.

Sunday 10 November 1996 The possibility of an election pact between Sinn Féin
(SF) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) was discussed
at the SDLP annual conference. It was decided that arrangements
could only be entered into after an Irish Republican Army (IRA)
ceasefire.

Monday 11 November 1996 Proposals for the joint marketing of tourism by Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland were attacked by the Democratic Unionist
Party (DUP).

Tuesday 12 November 1996 Lindsay Robb, formerly a Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
talks negotiator, failed in his appeal against a 10 year sentence
for gun-running on behalf of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

Wednesday 13 November 1996 Three Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners who had been serving
sentences in England were transferred to Portlaoise Prison in
the Republic of Ireland.

Sunday 17 November 1996 A report in the Sunday Tribune (a Dublin based newspaper) claimed that
the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were effectively observing a ceasefire
while they engaged in contacts with the British government. Unionist
parties maintained their stated position that decommissioning
of IRA weapons would have to take place before Sinn Féin
(SF) could be involved in any talks.

Monday 18 November 1996 The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) discovered an Irish Republican
Army (IRA) mortar just outside Derry.

Wednesday 20 November 1996 Leaders of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive
Unionist Party (PUP) held a meeting with John Major, then British
Prime Minister, at Downing Street, London. The leaders of the
two Loyalist parties warned Major that the impasse over the issue
of decommissioning arms in the Stormont talks could put the Loyalist
ceasefire in "jeopardy".

Thursday 21 November 1996 The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) left a bomb, which
failed to explode, in Derry.

Saturday 23 November 1996 Sinn Féin (SF) held a special conference in Athboy,
County Meath, Repubic of Ireland. The main topic of discussion
was the peace process. The media were not allowed to cover the
event.

Suday 24 November 1996 A planned march by the Orange Order through the Catholic village
of Dunloy was stopped by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
Following this RUC decision Loyalists resumed their weekly picket
of the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena.

Monday 25 November 1996 Roisin McAliskey, daughter of the former Member of Parliament
(MP) Bernadette McAliskey, was detained in prison following a
request by German police for her extradition. The charge related
to an Irish Republican Army (IRA) mortar attach on the British
Army Osnabruck barracks in Germany on 28 June 1996. Roisin was
five months pregnant at the time of her arrest.

Tuesday 26 November 1996 David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),
criticised Mary Robinson, then President of the Republic of Ireland,
for not following "the proper protocol" when arranging
visits to Northern Ireland.

Thursday 28 November 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, replied in the House
of Commons to proposals for a new Irish Republican Army
(IRA) ceasefire. The proposals were developed during meetings
between John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin
(SF). Essentially the proposals called for the entry of SF into
the Stormont talks immediately following an IRA ceasefire. Major
rejected the central proposal stating that the British government
would make its own assessment of the permanence of any new ceasefire.
Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),
warned against any changes to the Act of Succession which forbids
any English monarch from marrying a Catholic.

Friday 29 November 1996 Robert Carswell replaced Brian Hutton as the Lord Chief Justice
of Northern Ireland. Peter Robinson, then deputy leader of the
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), alleged that members of the Irish
Republican Army (IRA) had been targeting him in London.

Saturday 30 November 1996 There was serious violence during the loyalist picket of the
Catholic church at Harryville, Ballymena. Approximately 500 loyalists
attacked the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and those trying
to attend mass. Petrol bombs were thrown, cars damaged, and two
Catholic women needed hospital treatment. The RUC found homemade
explosives near Armagh. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) held
its annual conference. During the conference there were calls
for the right of loyal order parades to proceed unhindered. Republican
Sinn Féin (RSF) held an Ard Fheis (party conference) in
Dublin. The conference was critical of the peace process but supported
the aims of the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA).

December 1996

Sunday 1 December 1996 The Mail on Sunday (a London based newspaper) and the Sunday World (a Belfast based newspaper) both published a story which alleged an affair between
Gerry Kelly, then a talks negotiator for Sinn Féin (SF),
and Martha Pope, then an aide to George Mitchell, then the chair
of the Stormont talks. [Both Kelly and Pope denied the allegation
and an apology and a financial settlement were agreed within the
week. Many commentators speculated as to the possible involvement
of MI5 (British Intelligence) in concocting and spreading the
story.]

Tuesday 3 December 1996 An Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) delegation met Al Gore, Vice-President
of the United States of America (USA), and a number of members
of Congress, in Washington.

Wednesday 4 December 1996 Two Catholic families were forced to leave their homes in
the mainly Protestant Ballykeel Estate, Ballymena, after petrol
bomb attacks on their houses. David Ervine, then leader of the
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), said that he would support Catholics
trying to get to mass at Harryville, Ballymena. [Ervine did not
appear at Harryville but suggested that there should be dialogue
instead of confrontation.]

Thursday 5 December 1996 A Police Authority of Northern Ireland (PANI) report indicated
that 80 per cent of Catholics, and 30 per cent of Protestants,
want the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to be reformed or replaced.

Friday 6 December 1996 Another Catholic family was forced to leave the mainly Protestant
Ballykeel Estate in Ballymena. This followed earlier expulsions
on 4 December 1996. Two Catholic schools were also damaged in
sectarian attacks in north Antrim. Ken Maginness, Security Spokesman
of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), claimed that the Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP) was responsible for the sectarian tensions
in the Ballymena area. Martin Smyth announced that he was retiring
as Grand Master of the Orange Order.

Tuesday 10 December 1996 Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
announced that the extra security costs associated with the disturbances
surrounding Drumcree and the ending of the Irish Republican Army
(IRA) ceasefire would have to be met from the existing budget.
Hence there were to be cuts of £120 million from the provision
for public services with training for the unemployed and housing
facing the greatest cutbacks.

Wednesday 11 December 1996 Robert Saulters was elected as Grand Master of the Orange Order
following the resignation of Martin Smyth. He repeated earlier
comments he had made about Tony Blair, then leader of the British
Labour Party, being "disloyal" for marrying a "romanist"
(Roman Catholic). Chuck Feeney, an Irish-American businessman,
confirmed that he had donated $240,000 to the establishment of
Sinn Féin's (SF) office in Washington.

Friday 13 December 1996 Tony Blair, then leader of the British Labour Party, paid
a visit to Northern Ireland where he met representatives of the
main political parties, with the exception of Sinn Féin
(SF). An application for bail on behalf of Róisin McAliskey,
whose extradition was being sought by the German government, was
rejected despite being pregnant and in poor health. A report on
alleged boycotts of Protestant businesses in some rural parts
of Northern Ireland was presented to the Forum. The report claimed
that the boycotts were being organised by SF.

Tuesday 17 December 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, began a two day visit
to Northern Ireland. Michael Howard, then British Home Secretary,
refused to allow the cases of 14 people convicted on Irish Republican
Army (IRA) related offences to be reopened. This was despite indications
that forensic evidence used against those convicted could have
been contaminated. John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister),
met with Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of
America (USA), in Washington. In a statement both men said that
they were in favour of a swift entry to the Stormont talks for
Sinn Féin (SF) if there was an IRA ceasefire.

Wednesday 18 December 1996 John Major, then British Prime Minister, during his visit
to Northern Ireland, admitted that the Stormont talks were "stuck"
over the issue of decommissioning.

Thursday 19 December 1996 John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP), held a meeting in the Maze Prison with Loyalist
prisoners. Joe Kennedy, then a United States Congressman, visited
Belfast and held a series of meetings with political and community
groups.

Friday 20 December 1996 Two members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) shot and injured
a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer who was protecting Nigel
Dodds, then a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor. The
attack took place in the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children
in Belfast.

Sunday 22 December 1996 Eddie Copeland, a senior republican figure, was injured when
a bomb exploded below his car in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.
The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) were thought to be responsible
for the attack.

Wednesday 25 December 1996 The graves of 18 Catholics were vandalised in a North Down
graveyard.

Saturday 28 December 1996 Liam Duffy, an political activist with Sinn Féin (SF),
discovered a bomb under his car in the Waterside area of Derry. John Hume, then leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP), called for an early general election stating his view
that a strong government in Westminster would help the peace process.

Sunday 29 December 1996 A report in the Sunday Times (a London based newspaper) claimed that
Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), and Martin
McGuinness, the Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), had both
been appointed to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) Army Council.
This allegation was denied by the men.

Notes Each entry contains information, where relevant, on the following topic areas:

Major security incidents

Political developments

Policy initiatives

Economic matters

Other relevant items
Information contained within square brackets [ ] may contain commentary or information that only became publicly available at a later date. Any piece of information which is followed by a question mark in parenthesis (?) is a best estimate while awaiting an update.